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“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth”

I became a big sister.  Eleven months, numerous meetings, an exhaustive three hr. long personal history screening interview, two training seminars and it finally happened.  It had always been on my 101 list, had been on my life list even before that.  As a person who so wholeheartedly believes in karma I always knew I’d never done as much as I could to put my best out into the world.  I felt like I’d been in that weird medium of becoming a grown up long enough to finally start putting action to all of my grand dreams.

 

So one muggy June afternoon last year I signed my name and started the process with BBBS.  June 9th 2010 it became official, C and I met, hit it off and have been baking, walking, talking and scrapbooking our way to getting to know one another.  It’s been, in a word, enlightening.  A word I feel that usually brings up cheesy romantic notions or even religious connotations at times, but for me is the only word I have to grasp at how these past couple weeks have felt. 

 

I often forget that there’s always something new to learn about yourself, and that in seeing C, where she is, the life she’s lead so far, the life she’s yet to lead, there is so much more out there.  I know the downfall I had at thirteen was that I could never escape the tragedy of my own circumstances.  I was too clouded with hurt and anger and sadness to see the possibility of what could be.  That one day I would be okay, one day I would be better than okay.  One day I would be happy. 

 

I hope if I give anything to her, it’s the brilliant hope of a happier tomorrow, one where anything you work hard enough for can be accomplished and anything that makes you happy can be a reality.  From pink kitchen walls to dodgeball playoffs to standing in a new ocean.  It’s all possible.

 

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ps. forgive me for the similar shoes. i figured i needed more arsenal than normal for a day of calaway park. that arsenal came int he form of my nikes.

“It’s undeniable how brilliant you are”

I’ve always wanted a big family. When I look ahead, I hope it’s a family like this. One that has parents and grandparents, and brothers and sisters, one that laughs, one that argues, one with a dog and one with love to tie it all together.

The Mckee’s are no stranger to this blog, Carly has single-handedly started my photography career with her encouragement, endorsement, referrals and overall wonderfulness. Anyssa jumped the bandwagon with her dance moves and bestfriend Martina, and yesterday I finally had a chance to meet all the relatives for my favourite family shoot to date.

I love you guys. And c.a.n.n.o.t wait for Carly & Cotie’s wedding so we can get together all again with your beautiful smiles and my fancy lenses.

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So sweet.

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…And not quite as sweet. Hahahaha.

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Rylee is a tank.  Family’s words, not mine.

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We were all about re-creating amazing Disney childhood memories.  Too bad we lacked that poncho & visor.

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“Sister, I hear your laugh, my heart fills full up.”

Calgary has finally hit its stride in winter, days of snow and blustery cold, mittens and laced up boots.  It’s my most favourite time of year.  December. Christmas. Everything about the way the air breaths in, smart and stabbing against your lungs.  Snowmen, christmas lights, hot chocolate with bailey’s.

The best part? It’s that time of year when all families seem to remember no one ever has enough photos together, I’ve been jam packed full with meeting new friends and catching new angles.  I met Erin through Carly, a twist of fate clearly meant to happen when we realized we share a love of baking and Starbucks Christmas drinks.

We spent hours giggling down Kensington and traipsing through snowy roadways, the two EVER patient with my, just one more here, and only forty-eight more blocks to the left ;) The girls never complained once, despite the chill, and the stilettos.  That’s right, not one, but both showed up wearing heels.  Clearly two after my own heart.  I couldn’t think of a more fantastic way to spend my Saturday.

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Nothing like a little phone booth love to get us started :)

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Hello beauties!

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E-tank! + J-machine! (PS. If this picture doesn’t make you fall instantly in love with them, something is wrong in your head)

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Love, love, love.

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Absolute favorite for last!!!!!

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“Cause I believe there’s a way you can love me because I say”

I first met Anyssa at Elizabeth and Ryan’s wedding, I think we knew it would be friendship forever when I took out several small children with my dancing Macarena elbows, since then it’s been Beyonce hip shakes and laughter ever since.

We spent the blustery, blustery Sunday afternoon trampling across cold grounds with her and her very best friend Martina.  They played Rummy in their coolest of cool clubhouse and giggled as I made them risk peril on train tracks and bridge ledges.

Here’s to best friends, inside jokes, growing old together…

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Martina lives on THE coolest, most beautiful acreage ever…hello, future dream home!

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I love Anyssa, but…

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Martina kicked her ass in cards ;)

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Favorite of the day. Of the week. Of the month.

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Love.

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Anyssa rocked the monkey bars.

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The light here was RIDICULOUS!

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“Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone, I love you, that’s all I really know”

It was the first blog post here.  I had asked Carly and Cotie, friends from a past long ago folding shirts at Old Navy to model for me.  I was new, shaky before the camera, fumbling around, fingers crossed I could get the hang of this photography thing, they’d been dating for forever, Carly and I spent the afternoon excitedly talking of a future a long ways ahead in where she and Cotie would need real engagement photos.  But that would be years from now, we went along our merry way, me nervous, and them gorgeous and as in love as ever.

And then August 15th came, and Cotie made years turn into current time.  He proposed, she said yes, and there was a hell of a lot of excited shreaking.  On my part, of course.  Carly has single-handedly been one of the biggest influences to get my business up and running and lord only knows without her pimping I’d probably have dusty lenses and a silent phone.  There aren’t words to express how grateful I am to have her as not just another client, but a really great friend.  I am SO excited for this wedding, it’s going to be a long time coming (November 2011) but I will sit patiently with my desktop calendar drooling over these photos in anticipation.  Love you two, xoxo.

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I love, love, love this picture!

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Favorite.

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Bling!!

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“Life for you my prince has just begun, and I thank you for choosing me to come through unto life to be.”

She helped him on the ends of the Hockey Song, held his hand crossing the street, stretched her arms wide even after the fourth run across the grass.  Mom things.  Tiny things, big things, important things.

My Mom made me who I am by these things, I move furniture before I clean, hum the bars of harmonica in Five Days in May, laugh with abandon, swear often, say I love you in between each breath.  Small things that happened in between moments that threaded between my pores, on a blustery Saturday of October I had the happiest afternoon snapping these moments of Sarah and Brighton’s lives.

I hope to know Brighton years from now, see who he becomes, see who Sarah helps him to become.

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Hello Brighton, I love you.

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I know this one is a bit blurry, but for some reason I just completely fell head over heels for it.

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my life.

“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth”

I became a big sister.  Eleven months, numerous meetings, an exhaustive three hr. long personal his

More in my life.

families.

“It’s undeniable how brilliant you are”

I’ve always wanted a big family. When I look ahead, I hope it’s a family like this. One that ha

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engagements.

“Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone, I love you, that’s all I really know”

It was the first blog post here.  I had asked Carly and Cotie, friends from a past long ago folding

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“Its still the same old love story, a fight for love and glory”

I know I always fumble out the right words, but this time I feel like I’ve got none.  None to

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